Cutest Cowboy In The West

"Howdy Y'all!"

Looking at this picture makes me laugh. I hope it brings as many smiles to everyone as it has to me. I love being this kid's mom!

My New Blog Title

Most of my friends that have a blog, have a name for it. I have thought for a really long time if it was something that I wanted to do, and if I did it, what would be my theme or name. I'm going to admit to everyone today in this blog my weakness in life. I worry too much about tomorrow. I dread the next day, fearing what it will bring and how bad it will affect me. As you all know, my job as a Surgical Technician is very demanding. It's hard when you work with 20 different surgeons in 20 different fields and there are 20 different cases that they all do. When I know what my assingment is for the next day, most of the time all I want to do is go into my room, shut the door and hide under the covers until my alarm goes off in the morning as the tears stream down my face because all I want to do is stay at home with my little boy. I can't deal with having to fix dinner or giving Carson a bath, or even playing with him. I just want to go hide. We are all faced with trials in our lives that we all need to learn how to deal with. I am one who has been stuck in this trial for quite some time and I really believe I almost have a habit of not wanting tomorrow to come. Here's an issue that is something that has been a trial for the past few months. Dave and I have a decision to make. If we buy a home, I continue to work and be unhappy and we can't have another baby because my mom won't babysit anymore if we do. That is totally understandable. I don't even know if I could handle 2 kids! She has been so awesome to watch Carson for free so we don't have to pay for a babysitter. With her health conditions, it's hard for her to watch Carson as it is.

But, if we don't buy a home, we can have another baby, but not have a home. I hate living in a small apartment. I wonder which is more important. I believe that today we live in a society run by satan, forcing mothers out of the home to work because everything is too expensive. I sit there holding Carson sometimes and wishing that moment doesn't end, not wanting to face that issue. That is where my new blog title comes in. Living in the moment. President Monson's talk last conference in October of 2008 titled "Finding Joy in the Journey, he states, "This is our one and only chance at mortal life -here and now. The longer we live, the greater our realization that it is brief. Opportunities come, and then they are gone. I believe that among the greatest lessons we are to learn in this short sojourn upon the earth are lessons that help us distinguish between what is important and what is not. I plead with you not to let those most important things pass you by as you plan for that illusive and nonexistenct future when you will have time to do all that you want to do. Instead, find joy in the journey-now." He also goes on to read a quote from The Music Man that says, "You pile up enough tomorrows, and you'll find you've collected a lot of empty yesterdays." I often think that Pres. Monson's talk was just for me and no one else, but obviously there are a lot who have this issue or else he probably wouldn't have spoken about it. I always tell Dave that life doesn't go as I want it to go. I always say, "if it were up to me, this is what would be different." I can't do that anymore. I just need to live in today and forget about tomorrow, until it happens. I need the old guy off of the Wedding Singer to put his arm around me and tell me, "everything is going to be alright." For all of you who have read to this point, thank you. I needed to get that off of my chest. I hope that if you are dealing with the same problem or issue, even in a different way, that you'll be able to be a little touched by this blog.

Happy Valentine's Day

I just wanted to tell everyone how awesome my husband and my little boy are! I had the best Valentine's Day. We had fun decorating cookies for a lot of Carson's little friends. I actually made a little cookie especially designed for Carson. Dave and I each got Carson something. Dave got him a Mickey Mouse chair and I got him "Be My Valentine Charlie Brown". Then I dragged Dave (literally) to Confessions of a Shopaholic. I liked it a lot. Dave on the other hand, didn't really, but that's okay. Since when do guys like chick flicks? Then after Dave and I got back to my parent's house to pick Carson up, Dave told me to wait a while at my mom and dad's since we drove separate cars so he could get something ready. When I got home, there was a candlelight lasagna dinner with breadsticks and a yummy Ceaser salad with sparkling cider. Dave got me a Soduko book (I am a nerd, but I love it) and an itunes giftcard. I've been updating my ipod with lots of music that I can run to when the weather gets better. Carson got me a water bottle so when I actually excercise, I'll have one. I got Dave the Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives book with recipes and restuarants that you can visit when you go out of town. He loves that show on the Food Network. Here are some pictures.

Here is the Mickey Mouse Cookie I decorated for Carson. It's not the best, but Dave and I had fun doing it! Carson recognizes who it is and that is all that matters! Dave's mom, Peggy brought us home a Mickey cookie cutter when she went to Disney World.

Here is all of Carson's little gifts. Spoiled kid! Dave didn't know that I had gotten him the book and I didn't know that Dave got him the chair, so yeah. Nana and Papa bought him a plate, bowl and cup for Valentine's! Thanks you guys! We need stuff like that for Carson. My parents got him a cute card, but I left it at their house. :(

Here is the two boys drinking their drinks after filling up on yummy lasagna. It was so nice not to have to worry about dinner, but if you ask Dave, he thinks I never worry about dinner since I never have it ready by the time he gets home from work.

Cute Pictures

I found this picture today in an email that my sister-in-law Angela sent me while I was looking for a recipe she also had sent me. This is my favorite nephew named Jackson! He's so cute! I'm so lucky to be his aunt. What a smile!

I also found this picture of Carson and Maile at Nana and Papa's Halloween Chili Dinner. Thank goodness Maile can put up with him. It made me laugh. She is so cute with Carson and she is my favorite niece named Maile.

Laundry

After spending the day folding the family's laundry, Carson had his own way of doing things. I actually like his idea better. I know it would save me a lot of time! Just shove all of his clothes into one of his toy buckets. I just had to share. It was so cute! Hey, and it kept him quiet and busy for about 5 minutes. I didn't hear him beg me to watch "Dot Dog" for 5 whole minutes. What bliss!

Stuck, Stuck, Stuck

Tonight I heard a shreak from Carson's room. There really isn't anything in there that could really hurt him or that he could really destroy, but that shreak scared me. When I ran in there, he wasn't in trouble, he was stuck. I just love the situations kids get themselves into! What a cutie!

For Kirstin

Ever since I have moved into the apartment we live in, I've had friends (Kelli, Miranda, etc) get me started on painting and crafts. I was talking to my sister-in-law Kirstin about my projects that I have either made, started or have yet to start, and she told me to blog them so she could see them. So, here you go Kirstin.

This is for Carson's room. I was supposed to be done with it by Christmas, but I made my mother-in-law a frame and painted ornaments for my visiting teaching girls. I also made Noel the Utah blocks for Christmas posted below. So, I was pretty busy with other things. I hope to be done with this soon though.

Here is my ladybug that I will try to have done by the summer. I have the wire for the antennas and black rhinestones that will go on the wings as well.

I made this for my shelf. I just painted a block of wood and then the metal "Live" came as is. I just screwed it on. Easy Peasy! Cute idea for a little gift for someone though.

Here is the other one I made for my shelf.

This is a frame for (3) 5x7 pictures. I will have ribbon hanging on it to hold the handle, but I wanted to put a baby picture of all three of us in it.

I am making this one for a wedding gift. Kirstin knows who, but it will have the last name on the top of the metal temple and then underneath the metal temple it will have "Est. May (blank) 2009 and across the bottom will say "for time and all eternity". I am really excited for this gift. I hope the person who is recieving this doesn't look on my blog soon and likes it!

These are the Utah Football blocks I made for Noel for Christmas. I like hers a lot more than mine, but I am going to redo my "OF" block because the letters don't fit on mine. I got this idea from Kelli Whitney's sister who made them for Jer. She is so creative!

And here is my Utah blocks. Cute, but not as cute as the second time I made them.

I wish I had a picture of the picture frame I made for my mother-in-law Peggy. I painted it brown and had a metal hook on it that was held by ribbon and around the picture frame it said, "I never know how much love my heart could hold until I was called NANA". Then I put a picture of all the grandkids together at the Thanksgiving Point Children's Garden that we all went to in the summer. I might have to take my camera to my mother-in-laws house and get a picture of it, just so I can have it for myself too.

I have also started BYU blocks for my brother and sister-in-law, but I didn't get them finished. I love keeping busy and increasing my knowledge and practice with crafts.

The Carson Dictionary

I love how Carson is finally starting to say words and sounds. It is so fun because he doesn't seem to get as frustrated, but yet, he hears the word "no" more often now. Here are some of the things he says.

"Nan" - Fruit Snack (It's not a snack in general, it has to be fruit snacks when he says it)

"Mote" - Remote (He will actually run up to me and put in remote into my hand and ask to watch...(which brings us to our next word))

"Dot Dog" - Hot Dog/Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Yep, when he wants to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. What other show would he ever want to watch?)

"Lola" - Charlie and Lola (A show on Disney that he recognizes when it comes on, but he doesn't stay interested in it too long.)

"Ouse" - House/Mouse (When we read books and say either word, he responds with "ouse")

"No" - No/Snow (He will point to the snow on the ground or outside and say "no")

"Bubbles" - Bubbles (He says that word as clear as day)

"Noodles/Nonos" - Noodles (He will say noodles sometimes because he can call Toodles on the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Other days he just wants to call noodles "nonos")

"Ello" - Jello (He loves jello)

"Melmo" - Elmo (He is really starting to get into Elmo since his Grandma and Grandpa bought him the Elmo Live for Christmas)

"Bee" - Bee (He does good with that. He also recognizes and can say the letter "D". He will point to a zero sometimes and call it a "D")

"Ave" - Dave (When I call for his daddy, he will repeat me)

"Hi" - Lehi (We bought him "My First Book of Mormon Stories" book for his birthday and he will point to Lehi on the first page and say, "hi". He doesn't even say "hi" to people yet.

One thing that amazes me is that I was hanging out with my friend Liz the other day and she said, "well, thanks for coming over" and Carson started waving and said, "Bye". I guess he learned that from is friend Mickey or something because she didn't even say the word bye.

"Bye" - Bye/Butterfly (He will point in his books when he sees butterflies and call them byes)

"Meow" - Cat (If you ask him to say the word cat, he won't. He just says meow when he sees one)

Dog - Dog (If you ask him what a dog says, he just says dog again)

"Bwush" - Brush or Toothbrush (He can't go to bed unless his teeth are brushed)

Stas - Stars (He points up to the sky and says "stas" and will say it when he sees the shape too)

Moon - Moon

Dedus - Jesus (He will recognize him in pictures, I love it).

Nana - Nana

Papa- Papa

Wanpa - Grandpa

I am sure there are plenty more, but I just love how one day you'll pick up and object and try to teach him the word and he won't say it, but a few days later, he'll point to it and say something remotely like it. He's a smart little boy.

You Think He's Your Friend

Okay, since Dave and I have gotten Directv, I have to admit everyone in this household probably watches television more than they should. Carson and I get really bored and couped up after a long day inside our little apartment, so we watch a couple of shows throughout the day to help me out and to do something other than roam and play with toys. Well, some of them he only watches for about 3 minutes then it's over. We will usually watch the Disney Channel or some shows on Nick Jr. We had him watching shows like Little Einstein, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, The Backyardigans, The Imagination Movers etc. Those shows would keep him entertained for a few minutes, but then he'd go run to the kitchen and point up the the cupboard and tells me he wants a "nan" (translation: snack). Then we discovered the ole' so wonderful The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. He LOVES that show! He freaks out at the beginning and when Mickey says, "Do you want to go to my clubhouse?" he says something that sounds like "yeah". Then when Mickey says, "well alright, let's go!" Carson says, "GO!" I usually say things with him, but this morning he got 2 inches away from my face and repeated go because I didn't say it. So, I said go like my boss told me to.

He waves at all the characters at the beginning during the "roll call". When Pluto appears he says, "doooog". Whenever Mickey asks a question, he knows. It's crazy! He answers all "No's" but we are working on the yes part. Then at the end he stands up and does the Hot Dog dance and he'll wave to all of them as they are saying bye and he yells, "bye" 3 times while he keeps waving.

As cute as it all sounds, I think he's a little too young to be obsessed with a show so much that it messes with bedtime. When he goes to bed, I usually tell him that Mom and Dad will see him in the morning and that he needs to sleep to get his rest so we can all have fun playing the next day. Now the speach is, "don't worry, you'll see Mickey in the morning. You have to go to sleep so you can have fun watching Mickey tomorrow, so get some rest and go to sleep." Who cares about mom and dad anymore!

I am surprised at how smart kids are at this age and I love listening to him try to say words. He is definitely a llittle mimicker. He can't say his "r's" or his "k or c" sounds. Cars are "da's". He is our little Mickey Mouse Monster for sure!

In Search

As a few of you know, my cell phone dropped into a bucket at work. Since a lot of you know what I do, it was a bucket full of something extremely nasty. So, I am in search of a new cell phone. If any of you know any good deals on a cell phone or are selling your cell phone that is still in great condition, let me know. I also want to know any recommendations to a good phone. There are so many out there that I have NO idea what to go for. Thanks!

Grrrr...

I thought that I would take a minute to do what I do best. Whine. As you all know, I would LOVE to be a full-time stay at home mom. I am envious of all of you who get to do that. This Park family though, we don't have that luxury. I have to say though, that I am very happy that I only have to work two days a week instead of full-time. I get to be with my baby boy 5 days out of the week.

My schedule is 6:30 am to 3 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays. I am on-call Tuesday and Friday nights from 11 pm to 7 am the next morning. I am also on-call every 5th Saturday or Sunday, whichever weekend day they decide to put me on. As much as I don't work, I feel that I am always there.

Well, my point to all of this is....I HATE CALL!! Last night I was there from 11 pm to 5:30 am. I was awake for 24 hours! I am so tired....I probably shouldn't be blogging at 10:30 pm on the night before Thanksgiving, which I'm on-call all day tomorrow...like I said, I hate it. It makes me really unhappy. This past Friday night I was on-call, but I had a guy I work with take it for me and he was there from 12 am to 7 am, so if I hadn't had him take my call, I would've had two nights of endless hell. I am so grateful for Kevin for taking that shift. I just can't wait until Dave makes enough for me not to work.

I guess I have to look at it as a rewarding job to keep me from exploding. I see the patient come back and how much pain they are in and I am so happy to know that I helped better that person's life. I don't think the patients realize how much the Surgical Tech does. I was holding someone's dead bowel last night while I assisted the surgeon doing a bowel resection. I helped on a Carotid Endarterectomy 2 weeks ago on call! Talk about awesome...yet the stress and tiredness of the job has me worn down and has left me with no more enthusiasam. I did a 22 hour shift when I was 8 months pregnant. At 4 in the morning I was bawling because some equipment we had wasn't working and the surgeon was getting frustrated, but when he found out how long I'd been there, he was very nice about everything. Surgeons....they're fun. :)

I am just happy that I have a husband who is patient enough to let me b---- and moan about my job. Sorry everyone...I feel better now that I've admitted hating working.

Twilight

Kelli and I waiting for the movie to start

Angie, Gina and Cindy having a blast

Here are our feet!!

Our outrageous pajamas! Hey, we'll never forget this moment!

Angie, Me, Gina, Mom and Cindy

My Aunt Linda called my mom 4 months ago and told us that her daughter's friend had rent out a movie theater for the midnight showing of Twilight. My mom got 6 tickets so Gina and I got to invite two friends to come with us and my sister-in-law Angie got to go. We invited Cindy and I invited Kelli. We had a blast. Kellie and I went to Wal-Mart before the movie to get some 88 cent candy for the movie. We heard one girl say, "Oh my Gosh, those girls are in their pajamas." Well, DUH!! Of coarse Kelli and I were the only ones in pajamas at the theater...okay, the only ones in footsie pajamas, but what the heck! We were so excited! We were all skeptical about how Edward would be considering we didn't think they did a good job with picking the actor to play him. He did very well!! I didn't like Bella though. I thought she was a lame actress that didn't show any emotion. I swore when the movie ended it had only been going for an hour, but it was about an hour and 50 minutes, I think. It kept us entertained and I am excited to go see it again on Saturday night!

Surgery Update

Carson's elephant that mom and dad bought him after his surgery

Here is Carson in the other closet making a mess...if that's possible. I think they put in tubes that made him more energetic!

Here is Carson back to normal after his 3 hour nap...hiding in his closet

This is Carson before going back into surgery. His nurse, Irene made him a balloon out of a glove and drew a face on it.

Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you all know that Carson is doing awesome. I went back with him into the operating room to hold him while he squirmed to sleep. After he was asleep the surgery took 15-20 minutes and he was back with us within 30 minutes. He was crying really hard and it took about an hour to get him to calm down. He just didn't understand why he felt the way he did and he was disoriented. After we left the hospital and got into our familiar car and got home, he was everywhere! He was so happy to be home. He took a nap for 3 hours and then we was back to being his old self again...but happier. He's not holding his head while he coughs or swallows anymore. He seems to have more energy even! We are really happy with our decision to put tubes in his ears. I just want to thank everyone who has asked about him, called, stopped by or emailed to us to check on him. We love you all! Thanks for being such awesome friends and family.

Our 4th Year Anniversary...And Then Some

Today is mine and Dave's 4th year anniversary. Dave's sister Noel works for Anniversary Inn and got us a great deal for the Romeo and Juliet Suite. It was awesome! I totally forgot my camera and I was so upset, but I am sure I can find some pictures of it online to show. Noel decorated our room with rose petals, candles, massage oil, a bath fizz, Hershey kisses and Anniversary Inn mint truffles. We had cheesecake in the fridge and sparkling apple cider on ice. I also got a movie package that came with popcorn and two choices of drinks and candy. We saw everything we had and then we regretted pigging out at the Rodizo Grill. We had so much stuff to eat! I got Dave and I "The Office: Season 2" for a gift because that is one of our favorite pastimes as a married couple. We freaking love that show! I laugh so hard!

Here is the link to check out the room, if anyone is interested. http://www.anniversaryinn.com/rooms.php?room=67

Then the next day...we bought a car. A purple car. Talk about one night of worry-free romance to reality bitting you in the as....butt!

Tubes

This is what my mayo stand would sort of look like if I set it up at work

This is a fun picture I found showing everyone the tube being place into the eardrum

Hey Everyone! I just wanted to tell you guys that Carson is getting tubes in his ears on Wednesday November 19. We took him to see the the ENT doctor yesterday and he looked in his ears and saw fluid. The fluid keeps getting infected and he told us that it would be a long and hard winter for Carson. I am really happy about it and so is Dave. I have scrubbed in on these surgeries so it is so nice to know step by step on how everything works. I called Dave up yesterday after we had taken him in and Dave went to vote and I was teary eyed. I don't think that we would be human if we weren't nervous.

This will be a good thing. He goes in at 7:30 am and we'll be about to see him about 8-8:30, so he won't be away from us long. I also get to go back and hold his hand while they put him under anesthesia, so I am happy to do that as well. I may see if Dave wants to come back. I can steal him a pair of scrubs. :) Please keep Carson in your prayers!